When your aquarium's water has gotten a bit murky, it can be not only hard to enjoy your lovely fish, but it may be bad for your aquatic friends. Rather than struggling to change the water constantly or giving up and letting the water remain dingy, read on after the jump for help on fixing cloudy aquarium water.

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Steps

1

Learn about your fish tank. There are 3 common types of cloudy water: White, green, and yellow. Determine which type is affecting your tank and go from there.

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2

Realize that if it is white cloudiness, it is likely caused by a bacterial bloom. This is especially common in new tanks. Most of the time, once the tank cycles, the cloudiness will clear up on its own. In the meantime, water changes will help keep your water clear. If you have a new tank, perform 15% water changes until your tank cycles.

3

Know that if the water is green, it is probably an algae bloom. This is the result of excess nutrients in the water. It won't hurt your fish, but it can be unpleasant to look at. Cut back on feeding and step up the water changes until it clears up. You can also leave the lights off for a few days to kill off the algae.

4

Know that yellow cloudy water, the cause could be fish waste, tannins from driftwood, or decaying plant matter. If it is fish waste, vacuum your gravel more frequently. New driftwood releases tannins that color the water. This should subside in a few months. Also, remove any dead plant matter from your tank.

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